Sergio PiresConductor

Sergio Pires has a doctoral degree in choral conducting from Boston University, a master’s degree in Musicology from the Brazilian Conservatory of Music and a Licentiate’s degree in Music Education from the Federal University of State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO). He studied conducting with Carlos Alberto Figueiredo in Brazil and with Ann Howard Jones, David Hoose and Daniel Moe in the United States . He also attended several workshops with renowned international conductors. Between 1990 e 1995 Dr. Pires conducted the ensemble Brasil Barroco Choir and Orchestra which focused on music from eighteenth century Brazilian composers. He also conducted the Merck Chorale and the Chamber Choir of School of Music Villa-Lobos. From 1997 to 2010, he was a tenured professor of choral conducting at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) where he conducted the school of music’s chamber choir and co-directed the university Symphony Choir, as well as other choral ensembles. He also taught conducting and musicology seminars, developed research projects on Brazilian choral music and advised a number of undergraduate and graduate students. He immigrated to Canada in 2010 and lives in Burnaby with his wife Kathleen and son Claudio.